225 



shorter and more than half the length of the basal joint of 

 the tarsus. The apex of the abdomen is crushed inwards, but 

 the pygidium has a fairly acute tip. 



The type (fig. 81) represents a rare variety (I have only 

 seen a second specimen of it) of a species sent in abundance 

 by Mr. F. P. Dodd from the Cairns district (and also taken 

 there by Mr. E. Allen and myself). 



Var. 1. The most abundant form (but which must be 

 treated as a variety owing to rules of precedence) in a bright 

 light glows with the most brilliantly-metallic rainbow 

 tints/ 24 ) transversely placed but altering with every point of 

 view ; in a more subdued light it still has a conspicuous 

 greenish or bluish gloss, but some specimens, even in a poor 

 light, are brilliantly metallic. The suture and shoulders are 

 usually lightly clothed with somewhat golden pubescence. 



Var. 2. Like Var. 1, but without metallic gloss. 



Var. 3. With the brilliant rainbow tints of Var. 1, but 

 prothorax with a thin line of white pubescence from base 

 to apex on each side of middle ; suture and a short oblique 

 stripe on each shoulder with pale pubescence. Many speci- 

 mens of this variety have the white lines on the pronotum 

 sharply defined, but on others they are scarcely traceable. 



Var. 4. Pubescence mostly with a purplish or bluish 

 gloss, but each elytron (fig. 82) with four oblique feebly- 

 defined vittae of whitish pubescence, and some white 

 pubescence on the shoulder. A single specimen. 



Var. 5. Like Var. 1, but with an oblique reddish vitta 

 on each shoulder. The vittae on one specimen are rather 

 faint, but on two others well defined and traceable (from 

 certain directions) to beyond the middle. 



MORDELLA OBSOLETA, Lea. 



The complete or almost complete absence of basal mark- 

 ings from the elytra of this species, and the conspicuous 

 zigzag fascia are sufficiently distinctive of typical specimens ; 

 but it is difficult to decide of some specimens as to whether 

 they belong to it, to bella, or to promiscua. 



MORDELLA 18-MACULATA, Lea. 



PI. xiv., fig. 83. 



A specimen from Cunnamulla (Queensland) is larger 



(7 mm.) than usual, and with the basal spots on each elytron 



combined to form but one (of semicircular shape and almost 



conjoined with a sub-basal one). A specimen from Lucindale 



(24) The type is also brilliantly metallic, but less so than the 

 specimens taken by Mr. Dodd (it was, however, taken nearly forty 

 years before them). 



